The top spring and summer beauty trends for 2025 include lip stains, baked blush, classic bobs like Cate Blanchett's and pastel-hued nails. (Getty Images, Amazon)
As a longtime beauty editor, a big part of my job is to track makeup, hair and skin care trends. To that end, I scour thousands of runway and red carpet shots each season to see how makeup artists and designers are mixing things up. I like to know what's fresh and new, but, truth be told, at 52, I rarely follow these trends myself. I've been in this game long enough to know that what we collectively think of as beautiful is ever-shifting; the mark of real comfort in one's skin is to develop a personal style that works for you and not look to the outside world to dictate what you should do.
That said, no matter how old you are, it can still be fun to update your look with a bright lip tint or a fun nail color — or even a fresh hairstyle. So, while I will not be experimenting with all of 2025's beauty trends (looking at you, skinny eyebrows!), I do intend on trying the following five stellar looks, all of which work for any age and skin tone and are easy to incorporate into your routine without a ton of technical skill or a big hit to your wallet.
The "bitten" lip look — basically, a sheer-ish color wash that makes your lips appear as if they were just bitten (I know, a weird and even kind of gross description!) — was among the biggest beauty trends on the Spring 2025 runways. This look is most commonly created with deep wine and brighter berry shades (though corals work too) and the effect is best achieved with lip tints, which are lighter than standard lipstick, less precise than lip liner and less showy than gloss. The throw-it-on approach here is ideal for summer when makeup tends to be more minimal and laid back.
Maybelline's $10 Super Stay lip tint is a just-right product for trying the bitten-lip look for less. It goes on velvety smooth, the color is buildable and long-lasting, and it comes in 10 gorgeous, poppy shades (I'm partial to Petalcore).
It's more than just a lip stain — it does double duty as a blush (and it has just as much staying power on cheeks as it does on lips).
It might be illegal to discuss lip tints without mentioning Benefit's Benetint, which has been a stalwart leader in the category for more than two decades. Just a drop or two of this famously lush liquid stains lips, cheeks and anywhere else on your face where you're looking for a wash of color. The formula is hydrating without being greasy and truly gives the most reliably pretty pout.
I'll never forget the moment many years ago when a makeup artist looked me directly in the eye and unloaded the following unsolicited advice: "Black mascara is too harsh for your face — you should switch to brown." Turns out, she was right, brown is softer and more modern looking, and this volumizing, lengthening, flake- and smudge-free formula is an ideal entry point.
E.l.f.'s stay-put cream eyeshadows act as both primer and pigment, which means the crease-proof formula can stand up to even the most humid summer days and really last.
Danessa Myricks' Colorfix Cream Color consistently tops makeup artists' favorites lists year over year. It's a bestseller (and currently sold out on Amazon) for good reason: The shades are rich, layerable and the color really stays.
For this look, try matte colors Nude 9, Nude 10 or Nude 11, all toffee/walnut hues. Bonus: I tried Myricks' cream shadows recently and the product looked the exact same on my lids six hours after I applied it.
Habit's shades are always on-trend and modern (I would seriously use them all), but for spring/summer, I'd go for this '90s-inspired baby blue, which reminds me of The Cardigans' 1995 album Life in the best possible way.
Bonus: This polish is also completely toxin-free, vegan and Leaping Bunny-certified and contains skin-fortifying ingredients like myrrh extract to help strengthen nails.
This bright and pretty lavender nail lacquer by the reliably good brand OPI is chip-resistant, so you can enjoy your soft-purple Easter-egg manicure long after the holiday ends.
This sunny yellow shade by indie brand Olive & June may be my favorite nail polish of the season. The color is surprisingly versatile and the polish itself is long-wearing — lasting up to 10 days.
This fan-favorite flat iron uses ceramic plates infused with argan oil and keratin to smooth hair while eliminating frizz and boosting shine. If you're in the market for a quality straightener, the price on this one can't be beat.
Milani's cruelty-free powder blush is available in 12 shades — including several peachy pinks and light, bright rose hues. The formula is highly buildable (though you don't need a lot) and comes in both matte and shimmer finishes.
Laura Geller's baked blush was specifically made to brighten dull mature skin. The product is actually, truly baked: The pigments are heated on terracotta tiles for 24 hours, a process that gives the product a unique consistency, a combination of convenient powder with the coverage of a cream. But maybe my favorite thing about this blush is how it feels weightless and doesn't settle into fine lines.
This spring and summer, brown is truly the new black. Specifically, matte-brown eyeshadows, eyeliners and mascaras are taking a big beauty swing on red carpets and ad campaigns alike. It makes sense: Warm-brown smoky eyes are as flattering as their inkier counterparts without looking too severe or goth. The earthy, neutral hue complements any eye color and, with a variety of shades to choose from, is a suitable choice for most skin tones.
In summer 2025, the hottest nail colors will actually be cool: Think milky-periwinkle, pale yellow and punchy-bright lavender. And while, for some of us, pastels have historically evoked a too-girly, Disney-princess vibe or a childhood Easter outfit gone wrong (thanks, Mom!), these poppy hues are decidedly more sophisticated and grownup.
Classic bobs are always in vogue (I mean, can Cate Blanchett and Anna Wintour be wrong? I think not!), but this year's iteration is more sleek and polished than the wavy and choppier styles we've seen in the past. Try it with bangs or without, in longer versions (the "lob") or at chin length for an easy-upkeep summer 'do. Full disclosure: I went for the big chop last month, got a bob and haven't looked back — this cut is much easier to style than my former, chest-length shag.
Say goodbye to the dewy, glazed donut makeup that's dominated the beauty world since 2023. This spring is all about blurred, velvety, demi-matte skin, a look that's best achieved through powders, not creams. This is especially true for blush, which is making a big comeback in 2025 with an array of soft, diffuse products. Baked blush is literally a cosmetic that's been baked, often in the sun. This process both gives the powder a more intense pigment and can increase its wear time. These blushes usually contain several subtle shade gradients in one, creating a more natural effect on your skin.
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